Latest News
- February 10, 2022 - Quebec Court of Appeal announces an order in council renewing the public health emergency until February 18, 2022
- December 22, 2021 - Quebec Court of Appeal announces an order in council renewing the public health emergency until December 31, 2021
- December 17, 2021 - Quebec Court of Appeal announces an order in council renewing the public health emergency until December 24, 2021
- October 13, 2021 - Quebec Court of Appeal announces an order in council renewing the public health emergency until October 22, 2021
- October 8, 2021 - Quebec Court of Appeal announces an order in council renewing the public health emergency until October 15, 2021
- September 29, 2021 - Quebec Court of Appeal announces an order in council renewing the public health emergency until October 8, 2021
- September 22, 2021 - Quebec Court of Appeal announces an order in council renewing the public health emergency until October 1, 2021
- September 24, 2021 - Quebec Court of Appeal makes an order in council renewing the public health emergency until September 24, 2021
- January 7, 2021 - Covid-19 Pandemic - New arrangements for hearings on the merits
- December 16, 2020 - Continuation of activities at the Court of Appeal of Quebec
- September 1, 2020 - Lifting of the suspension of time limits in civil and penal matters
- August 31, 2020 - Resumption of Court Activities
- July 16, 2020 - Suspension of time limits in civil matters and penal matters lifted as of September 1, 2020
- July 9, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until July 15, 2020
- July 2, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until July 8, 2020
- June 29, 2020 - Update- Covid-19 Pandemic
- June 18, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until June 23, 2020
- June 11, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until June 17, 2020
- June 4, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until June 10, 2020
- May 28, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until June 3, 2020
- May 20, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until May 27, 2020
- May 7, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until May 13, 2020.
- May 1, 2020 - Virtual courtrooms
- April 30, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until May 6, 2020
- April 24, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until April 29, 2020
- April 16, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until April 24, 2020
- April 15, 2020 - Motions before a judge alone - virtual courtroom
- April 8, 2020 - Declaration of a state of health emergency extended until April 16, 2020
- April 7, 2020 - Postponement of hearings for the weeks of May 4 and May 11, 2020 - Hearings before a panel
- March 30, 2020 - Service and notification of pleadings
- March 25, 2020 - Postponement of hearings for the weeks of April 6 to 9, April 14 to 17, April 20 to 24 and April 27 to May 1, 2020 - Judge sitting alone
- March 24, 2020 - Update - COVID-19 Pandemic - March 24, 2020
- March 19, 2020- COVID-19 / Postponement of hearings of the Court of Appeal in Montreal: weeks of March 16, 2020, March 23, 2020 and March 30, 2020
- March 18, 2020 - Filing proceedings during the state of health emergency
- March 17, 2020 - Postponement of hearings at the Court of Appeal
- March 16, 2020 - Time limits suspended
- March 13, 2020 - Pandemic - Update
The Court of Appeal must postpone to an undetermined date or reschedule the hearings on the roll for the following weeks:
- March 16 to 20, 2020;
- March 23 to 27, 2020;
- March 30 to April 3, 2020;
- April 6 to 9, 2020;
- April 14 to 17, 2020;
- April 20 to 24, 2020;
- April 27 to May 1, 2020;
- May 4 to 8, 2020;
- May 11 to 15, 2020.
In light of the current pandemic and its effects on the Court's activities, parties to an appeal are, in general, strongly urged to consider the possibility of availing themselves of art. 384 C.C.P., s. 72 of the Rules of the Court of Appeal of Quebec in Criminal Matters or s. 67 of the Regulation of the Court of Appeal of Quebec in Penal Matters and, where applicable, to present a joint request to the Court to have the appeal decided on the face of the record, without a hearing. If the Court decides that it is appropriate to proceed in this manner, it will notify the parties.
On March 15, 2020, the Chief Justice of Quebec and the Minister of Justice suspended civil procedure time limits during the health emergency period (Joint Order No. 2020-4251, March 15, 2020). [See the section “Councils and joint orders” below for the list of councils renewing the state of health emergency.]
On August 31, 2020, the Chief Justice of Quebec and the Minister of Justice signed an order decreeing the lifting of the suspension of time limits in civil matters as of September 1, 2020 (Joint Order No. 2020-4303, August 31, 2020).
An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures
Extract from the summary of the Act respecting further COVID-19 measures
"Part 3 of the Act respecting further COVID-19 measures enacts the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) which addresses the need for flexibility in relation to certain time limits and other periods that are established by or under Acts of Parliament and that are difficult or impossible to meet as a result of the exceptional circumstances produced by COVID-19. In particular, the enactment :
- suspends, for a maximum of six months, certain time limits in relation to proceedings before courts;
- temporarily enables ministers to suspend or extend time limits and to extend other periods in relation to specified Acts and regulations for a maximum of six months; and;
- provides for the transparent exercise of the powers it confers and for Parliamentary oversight over the exercise of those powers."
On March 23, 2020, the Minister of Health and Social Services suspended certain time limits in the Code of Penal Procedure (Order No. 2020-009, March 23, 2020) including the following time limits:
- time limit for filing an application for leave to appeal (art. 296 C.P.P.);
- time limit for filing a written appearance in the Court of Appeal (art. 303 C.P.P.);
- time limit for filing a factum and proof of its service in the office of the Court of Appeal (arts. 304 and 305 C.P.P.).
On August 28, 2020, the Minister of Health and Social Services signed an order decreeing the lifting of the suspension of time limits in penal matters as of September 1, 2020 (Order No. 2020-060, August 28, 2020).
Time limits in criminal matters have not been suspended. Therefore, notices of appeal and applications for leave to appeal must be filed within the usual time limits, subject to such extensions as may be requested in accordance with the ordinary rules. In other respects, if parties believe they will not be able to meet the deadline for the filing of briefs or the documents that stand in lieu of the brief (appeal from a sentence), they are asked to send a letter by fax or an email (see the email addresses of the offices of the Court of Appeal below) in order to request an extension.
See the section dedicated to "Virtual courtoom".
- Council 177-2020 (March 13, 2020): CONCERNANT une déclaration d urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 118 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Joint Order 2020-4251 (March 15, 2020): Arrêté de la juge en chef du Québec et de la ministre de la Justice du 15 mars 2020 (only in French)
- Council 222-2020 (March 20, 2020): CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique et certaines mesures pour protéger la santé de la population (only in French)
- Council 2020-009 (March 23, 2020): Arrêté de la ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux -Concernant l'ordonnance de mesures visant à protéger la santé de la population dans la situation de pandémie de la COVID-19 (only in French)
- Joint Order 2020-4267 (March 27, 2020): Order 4267 of the Chief Justice of Québec and the Minister of Justice dated 27 March 2020 - CONCERNING the notification of a document by a technological means during the period of the public health emergency declared on 13 March 2020
- Council 388-2020 (March 29, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique et certaines mesures pour protéger la santé de la population (only in French)
- Council 2020-013 (April 1, 2020): Arrêté de la ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux -Concernant l'ordonnance de mesures visant à protéger la santé de la population dans la situation de pandémie de la COVID-19 (only in French)
- Council 418-2020 (April 7, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 460-2020 (April 15, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 478-2020 (April 22, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 483-2020 (April 29, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 501-2020 (May 6, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 509-2020 (May 13, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 531-2020 (May 20, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 544-2020 (May 27, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 572-2020 (June 3, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 593-2020 (June 10, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique (only in French)
- Council 630-2020 (June 17, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique
- Council 667-2020 (June 23, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique
- Council 689-2020 (June 25, 2020): Ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation
- Council 690-2020 (June 30, 2020):CONCERNANT le renouvellement de l’état d’urgence sanitaire conformément à l’article 119 de la Loi sur la santé publique
- Joint Order 4282 (July 6, 2020) of the Chief justice of Quebec and the minister of Justice dated July 6, 2020 CONCERNING the lifting of the suspension of certain time limits for extinctive prescription, forfeiture and civil proceedings
- Ministerial Order 2020-050 (July 7, 2020) of the Minister of Health and Social Services dated 7 July 2020 Ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation
- Council 717-2020 (July 8, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Council 807-2020 (July 15, 2020) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Council 810-2020 (July 15, 2020) - Ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation (obligation to wear a face cover in closed public places).
- Order in council 811-2020 (July 22, 2020) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 814-2020 (July 29, 2020) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 815-2020 (August 5, 2020) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 818-2020 (August 12, 2020) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 895-2020 (August 26, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order 2020-060 (August 28, 2020)- Order of the Minister of Health and Social Services ordering of measures to protect the health of the population amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation
- Joint Order 2020-4303 (August 31, 2020)- Joint Order of the Chief Justice of Québec and the Minister of Justice concerning the lifting of the suspension of prescription and procedural periods in civil matters owing to the public health emergency declared on 13 March 2020
- Order in Council 917-2020 (September 2, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in Council 925-2020 (September 9, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in Council 948-2020 (September 16, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in Council 965-2020 (September 23, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1000-2020 (September 30, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1023-2020 (October 7, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1051-2020 (October 14, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1094-2020 (October 21, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1113-2020 (October 28, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1150-2020 (November 4, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1168-2020 (November 11, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1210-2020 (November 18, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1242-2020 (November 25, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1272-2020 (December 2, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1308-2020 (December 9, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1351-2020 (December 16, 2020)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1418-2020 (December 23, 2020) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1420-2020 (December 30, 2020) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 1-2021 (January 6, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 3-2021 (January 13, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 31-2021 (January 20, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 59-2021 (January 27, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 89-2021 (February 3, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 103-2021 (February 10, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 124-2021 (February 17, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 141-2021 (February 24, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 176-2021 (March 3, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 204-2021 (March 10, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 243-2021 (March 17, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 291-2021 (March 24, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 489-2021 (March 31, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 525-2021 (April 7, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 555-2021 (April 14, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 570-2021 (April 21, 2021) - Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
- Order in council 596-2021 (April 28, 2021)- Renewal of the public health emergency pursuant to section 119 of the Public Health Act
